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Non-Development Activity Policy

A framework for our International Health programs to operate under a consistent, sustainable development philosophy.

Original Issue

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10/2014
Authorised By

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Executive
Last Review

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03/2023
Next Review

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05/2026

Background

This policy provides a framework to ensure that the Burnet’s International Health programs operate under a development philosophy that is consistent with the objectives of the Australian Aid Program and the ACFIDCode of Conduct. Burnet’s International Health programs are focused on working with partners across theAsia-Pacific region to deliver development activities that build the capacity of those partners and contribute to the strengthening and sustainability of local health systems. Burnet therefore ensures that all development-designated funds are utilised for that purpose and are not used to promote or support non-development activities associated with welfare, religious and/or partisan political objectives.

Scope

The policy covers all Burnet employees in the course of their work and persons representing Burnet, who are engaged to perform any part of an International Development related activity which includes:

  • members of the Burnet Board
  • all Burnet employees, including managers and supervisors; full-time, part-time, casual, temporary or permanent staff; job candidates; and student placements
  • contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers and volunteers
  • Burnet honorary staff and associates
  • supporters, donors and other participants on field visits organised by Burnet
  • overseas partner organisations (where Burnet staff are placed)
  • partner organisations (engaged in overseas activities with Burnet programs)
  • any person representing the organisation at Burnet’s request.

Definitions

Aid and development activities means activities to reduce poverty and address issues of global justice through community projects and education, emergency management, advocacy, volunteering, the provision of technical and professional services and/or resources, environmental protection and/or restoration, and promotion and protection of human rights.

Development seeks to improve the conditions of communities in a sustainable way. It is based on working with communities, rather than on behalf of communities, to break the cycle of poverty and dependence so that their fundamental needs are met and the quality of their life enhanced. Development activities seek to address the root causes of need identified and in doing so contribute to reducing that need in the long term.

The concept of aid and development activities can be distinguished by the following principles:

  • strengths based approaches which encourage people and communities to create solutions for themselves
  • processes that seek to address the causes of poverty
  • processes that seek to empower rights holders to claim their rights and ensure that duty bearers exercise their duties
  • supporting systems and structures which enable people to move out of poverty
  • emergency relief, disaster recovery and meeting the immediate needs of refugees and internally displaced people.

Non-development activities means activities that are not aid and development activities. It includes welfare, religious/evangelical and partisan political activities.

For the purpose of this Policy and definition, it should be noted that Burnet has no “non-development” activities.

Partisan political activities are defined as supporting a political party, candidate or organisation affiliated to a political party.

Examples include:

  • staff being involved in party political activities
  • using funds or resources to facilitate or support a specific political party, candidate or party-political organisation in a local, regional or general/national election
  • using funds or resources to facilitate or support independence or separatist movements
  • using funds or resources to facilitate or support a particular politician or faction to gain power within a government or within a political party structure.

Religious activities are defined as supporting or promoting a particular religion, including activities undertaken with the intention of converting individuals or groups from one faith and/or denomination to another.

Activities that build up religious structures (including infrastructure, training or organisational activities) are also considered religious activities, unless those structures are specifically designed to provide non-denominational development outcomes.

Evangelical activities are those activities that promote a particular religious adherence or are undertaken with the intention of converting individuals or groups from one faith and/or denominational affiliation to another.

Welfare activities are defined as care and assistance, which aims to maintain people in a particular condition on a longer-term basis. Substantial and broad impact on social and economic conditions in the community is not normally expected from welfare programs. Welfare may be provided to an individual or family basis including home-based and institutional care programs, such as those provided by orphanages, homes for the elderly, hospital care programs, hospices, costs for the maintenance of these institutes, and the provision of food for those who are destitute.

Welfare activities are typically:

  • implemented independently of other sustainable community development activities
  • include no strategy for integration into broader community development programs
  • provided on an individual or family basis, rather than on a community basis, and are unconnected to emergency needs
  • implemented on a long-term basis with no clear exit strategy.

Policy statement/overview

Burnet as a signatory to the ACFID Code of Conduct is committed to meeting the quality principles and commitments within that Code as it relates to the way that Burnet works with local people and partners tha benefit from its International Health programs to respect their human rights, to avoid discrimination, and to contribute to systemic change.

Burnet is also committed to having its funds, or any other resources, designated for the purpose of aid and development and not to be used for non-development activities that promote a particular religion, political party or individual or organisation affiliated to a particular party, nor to undertake welfare activities. (Quality Principle 7, Commitment 7.3.2)

As an DFAT-accredited NGO, Burnet ensures that it can differentiate between development and non-development activities, and that where implementing partners undertake non-development activities, that they understand the difference and separate management and funding of development and non-development activities.

Burnet’s vision is for “A more equitable world through better health” and our purpose is “to create and translate knowledge into better health, so no one is left behind”. That is, we are actively working towards a healthier world, one in which all people, regardless of their status, location or background, have access to life-changing and life-saving research and health programs. Aligned with this, Burnet out of principle, does not engage in any non-development activities.

All Burnet’s activities are guided by the following development principles:

  • Burnet program activities are delivered with local partners for the benefit of local people on a non-discriminatory basis, irrespective of the religious or political beliefs or memberships of local partners and people.
  • Commitment to use aid and development funds for the development purposes for which they are intended.
  • Commitment to the development of sustainable local health systems through its capacity-building partnerships with local organisations. Burnet recognises that some partner organisations require service delivery as an entry point to the longer-term process of capacity building and direct service delivery assistance activities are strategically phased out as in-country partners progressively strengthen their capacity. Commitment to build local capacity, confidence and optimise sustainability in all program activities. The degree and nature of capacity building supported by Burnet will vary across programs and will depend upon the specific needs and priorities, strengths, capacities and resources of each partner, the national and local health systems, and the communities they support.
  • Accurate representation of our activities to the people we work with, donors and the public.
  • Funds raised for aid and development purposes are not used to exploit people and communities who are vulnerable and do not place any conditions or obligations on recipients in terms of non-development, religious or political outcomes that would affect their access to services being offered.
  • Burnet ensures that we and our partners can differentiate between development and non-development activity and communicate this appropriately to stakeholders, donors and the public.
  • As part of partner capacity assessment Burnet will identify whether a partner is engaged in non-development activities, and if so, communication with new partners will state Burnet’s position on support for non- development activity. This is reinforced through funding agreements which specifically exclude the use of funds for Non-development Activities.
  • Burnet’s partners will receive a copy of this policy, where appropriate.

Responsibility for implementation

The Executive, through the Head of Development Effectiveness, is responsible for the implementation and review of this Policy.

Working Group Heads, Activity Leads and Activity Managers are responsible for ensuring that this Policy information is provided to all funded Third Parties, where relevant.

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